Students share their coins to renovate park

NEW MARKET -- The children at New Market School grinned Wednesday as each of their coins dropped into a large water jug, jingling onto a growing pile of change.

Their quarters, nickels and dimes are their contribution toward the community-based renovation of Sharon Johnston Park. The money also takes them one step closer to winning the chance to help design the renovation.

Jenny Barrett, director of the park, explained that New Market is one of seven competitors in the Play at Sharon Johnson Park Coin Drive. Other contestants include Central, Hazel Green, Lynn Fanning, Mt. Carmel, Riverton and Walnut Grove elementary schools.

"This lets the kids be involved and lets us raise money for the playground," Barrett said. "The school that raises the most money gets the designer for the day."

A designer from New York-based playground design firm Leathers and Associates will visit with groups of children throughout the day and let them talk about their ideas for the playground. The designer will then unveil his plan for the playground at a community party that afternoon in the park.

The two-week-long coin drive will end Oct. 1, with the winning school named Oct. 11. The designer will visit the school Oct. 22.

So far, the schools have raised between $350 and $400, Barrett said. The $130,000 to $150,000 project will also be funded through donations from the community.

About $55,000 has been raised thus far.

"Once construction begins, 800-plus volunteers will be needed," Barrett said. "This park will also be community-built."

The children were thrilled at the thought of being able to help design the park.

"I want them to put a trampoline, 'cause they're fun to play on," said Joshua Campbell, a fifth-grader at New Market.

His sister, Savannah Campbell, said she would like a space theme similar to that at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

"I like the things that swing you around," Savannah, a third-grader, said of the center. "Those are my favorite."

Other children named monkey bars, see-saws and a water slide as things they'd like to see included.

Madison County Commissioner Roger Jones was also on hand Wednesday at the school to talk with the children about the playground.

"We are very excited about the things that are going to be done at the park," Jones said. "Jenny has set some high goals. We hope this is going to be a state-of-the-art park."

Sharon Johnston Park was created in 1979 on approximately 250 acres of land donated by the Johnston family, Barrett said. It boasts camping facilities, a fishing lake, a shooting range, an arena and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.